Location Details

If you're jonesing for a bit of childhood nostalgia, check out the East Bay's own Golden Gate Model Railroad Museum, a 10,000-square-foot space that boasts three model railroad layouts, built and maintained by the East Bay Model Engineers Society. The models range from steam locomotives to diesels, and the engineers have lovingly crafted each layout to accurately reflect scenery and operations on real tracks throughout the state: In the Tehachapi Loop section, long freight trains pass over themselves to gain elevation, just like they do on the real Southern Pacific and Santa Fe lines. Whatever you call yourself — rail fan, trainspotter, train buff, or gricer — a trip to the museum will give you that model-train rush you crave.